About Me

I work in Guatemala with Hope Haven international and Bethel Ministries. Along with my friends Chris and Donna Mooney and their family, we share the love of Jesus in various ways. Although giving out and maintaining wheelchairs is our primary ministry, we are involved in many other things as well. Building houses, feeding the hungry, providing education to handicapped children in orphanages and villages, and hosting a camp for the handicapped are just a small part of the things that God has given us the privilege of getting involved in. For several years now I have been keeping daily journals. Once a week I try to post new journals and pictures.
My e-mail is dick@dickrutgers.com
Guatemala Cell Phone # 502 5379 9451
USA Phone # 360 312 7720(Relays free to Guatemala)

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Promotion Day at Hermano Pedro

Chris, Donna, 4 of my boys and I headed over to Hermano Pedro to celebrate the end of another school year for the kids that attend the small school that we have there. Thanks to a wonderful teacher and a generous sponsor 7 of the kids that live in the orphanage are getting a wonderful education. Fact is Nanete, our teacher has helped see to it that 2 of the students that she has taught in previous years now go to to schools in town. Fidel (pictured above) is one of 2 students that have already graduated from our school. Although Fidel has severe CP and no use of his hands he managed to complete 2 grades of school each year and last year he graduated from our school. He now goes out and takes computer classes in Antigua. Even though Fidel has graduated from our school Nanete still spends a lot of tie with him and in his free time you will usually find him in the class room on his computer. Today he ran the overhead projector and the sound equipment for the promotion ceremony.

Fidel also showed us this slide presentation that he made.

Nanete is not only a dedicated teacher but a great advocate and true friend of all of our students.

Here are a few more pictures of the proud students and some of us who are so proud of them.

Since Pat has been borrowing some of my journals. I decided that turnabout is fair play.

Dick

Pat wrote-

This year two of Dick’s boys “graduated” from the equivalent of Jr. High. Esbin graduated from a public school, and was so excited that we were able to come up for the graduation ceremony.

For Esbin, school is quite a challenge, and we’re so proud of him hanging in there and graduating. His determination to stay in school is especially remarkable considering that he has been abandoned by his mother. He was taken in by another family, and shortly after he moved in with them, the father of the family drowned. A few months later, the mother died from an infection on her leg. This “blended” family is being held together by the young adult son and daughter, who have continued to care for Esbin and his brother, as well as their biological siblings.

Jason graduated, with honors, from a private Christian school he has attended. This is remarkable for the young man who, a year ago, was missing and we feared dead. After Dick received a call from a pastor in Guatemala City and convinced him to come home, he began going to the same school as Cesar and Fernando, thanks to the generosity of a sponsor in the U.S. This seems to have made all the difference for him, and he has excelled academically and socially. He truly is a work of God. Jason has become one of my favorites of Dick’s kids, and I was very disappointed to miss his ceremony since I was sick. Dick provided me with photos, however.

Jason receiving his class ring from his parentsas a proud Dick looks on

Both of these young men will be continuing their schooling in January. Jason wants to study tourism, though recently, after working with the Hermano Pedro kids at camp, is considering teaching or nursing.

Dick with Jason and Cesar.

Cesar has one more year before he graduates

but he received an award for his excellent grades.

We are especially proud of these young men, since many stop their studies and go to work at this point. I can’t help but think that this is in large part due to Dick’s influence and his constant interest in their schoolwork. Way to go, Guys!